Living Essentials

Banking

You will find it almost essential to have a bank account in the USA, unless you are here for a short period of time. We (USA Americans) use debit cards for almost all our purchases these days. We usually carry very little cash on us.

Opening an account
All you need to open a bank account is your passport, a U.S. address and some money to deposit. The bank will ask for your social security number (SSN) but you DO NOT NEED this number to open a bank account. If you are eligible for a SSN, just tell the bank you will give the number to them after you receive it. If you are not eligible for an SSN, that is fine. If you open up an interest-bearing savings account, you are eligible to apply for an Individual Tax Payer Identification Number (ITIN).

Wiring Money
If you want funds transferred electronically from your home to your bank here in the United States, you will need (1) the name of your bank, (2) your bank account number, and (3) your bank's routing number. Each bank charges for wiring funds in and out of the country. Contact the individual banks for fees.

The Triangle area (Durham-Chapel Hill-Raleigh) is a great place to raise children. There are lots of family friendly things to do as well as many parks and green areas. Good Resources to check out include: Carolina Parent, Durham Parks & Recreation and Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation. That said, one really must have a car if you are coming here with children. For more information on how to go about purchasing a second-hand car, take a look at

Durham boasts some of North Carolina's most notable chefs and restaurants. Nearly 500 restaurants can be found in Durham, with fare ranging from good ol' North Carolina barbecue to grilled steaks to fresh seafood and with styles ranging from traditional favorites to more exceptional fare, such as Caribbean, Ethiopian, and Middle or Far Eastern.

Fact Sheets

Restaurants Close to Campus: There are some fun neighborhoods within walking distance to West and East Campuses which host a diversity of places to eat.

Tips on Tipping: Unlike many other parts of the world, a tip is NOT included in restaurant bills or other services provided. Take a look at this handout to get a better grasp of how US Americans tip for service.

The best place to take English as a Second Language Courses is at Durham Technical Community College. Durham Tech offers FREE classes in both Durham and Chapel Hill. Applicants must attend the mandatory registration session in order to be enrolled for classes that semester. Durham Tech does not provide childcare.

Information Sheets

General ESL Resources
- Places in the Durham area where one can study English. Also once a week activities at Duke.

Private Tutors List
- Perhaps hiring a Private Tutor might be a good option for you. Here is a list of local tutors and editors.

International House at Duke is actually an office and not a place to live.

Housing on campus is primarily for Duke Undergraduate Students. All graduate and professional students as well as visiting scholars need to find off-campus housing.

When you think about looking for a place to live, questions to consider include...
How much can I afford to spend on rent?
Do I want to share an apartment or house or do I want to live by myself?
Do I need to live within walking distance to campus or will I be driving to campus?
If you need to live within walking distance, then we STRONGLY urge you to find a place to live within the Duke Vans zone. (See Duke Vans Boundary Map)

International House staff can advise you about how to find a place to live. Please contact us with questions.

For those of you who need to be within walking distance or along a bus route, here is a great link to check out. Do contact International House staff for feedback/advice if you want another opinion.

Duke University is a safe place for students to learn, grow, and enjoy their college experience. Security is a shared responsibility, and students, faculty, and staff are valuable partners in helping the Duke University Police Department maintain a safe campus community.

Duke Police offer a variety of safety and security services. International House offers our own list of safety tips as well.

The majority of apartments are unfurnished in the United States. It is very easy to obtain furniture (new or second-hand). You can do it! Many people are ordering items online and having it delivered straight to their apartment/house. Look at the Shopping Handout below to see where you can purchase second-hand furniture, where to rent a van or little truck if you do want to transport it, as well as where to rent furniture.

Fact Sheets

General Shopping: Where to locate furniture, how to transport furniture, Second-Hand Stores, local Malls, etc.

Do you wonder what you have to do about filing U.S. tax returns? Here is the answer:

*1040 NR-EZ means "1040 Non-Resident Easy." You can to use this form if you want to claim the standardized deduction.**1040 NR: use this form if you want to claim "itemized deduction." For instance, if you have donated money to a charity.***For more information on Year End Tax Forms (W-2, 1099, 1042S), click here.

All international students, scholars and their family members who stayed in the U.S. on a visa in 2016 must file Form 8843 individually and send it to Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Austin, TX 73301-0215 by April 18, 2017. This is true even if you did not have any income in 2016.

If you had any U.S. based income in 2016, you will need to file for the federal tax return and probably for the state tax return as well by April 18, 2017. For more information on what to do with tax returns, please see our tax video.

Don't use TurboTax if you are Non-Resident for Tax Purposes!
TurboTax and TaxAct are only for U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals who are considered residents for tax purposes. If you are a non-resident for tax purposes and need to file federal and state tax returns, IHouse will provide an access code to use the online software Sprintax from March 6th. We will announce our distribution plan when it gets close, so please stay tuned.

Some countries have tax treaties with the US that may reduce the amount of taxes you pay. Eligibility to invoke tax treaty benefits will not necessarily be structured around the date you begin work, but rather with your date of arrival in the United States. To find out if your country has a tax treaty with the US, visit Corporate Payroll Services website http://finance.duke.edu/payroll/fnatl/index.php

For more detailed information or for additional questions, email Debbie Endsley, International Tax Payroll Coordinator.

The International House staff cannot offer personal assistance beyond the information on our website. We encourage you to seek advice from the Internal Revenue Service, the North Carolina Department of Revenue, or a qualified tax professional.

*International Student Identity Card. Although your Duke Card serves as a Student ID in the United States, some students also want to obtain the International Student Identity Card otherwise known as ISIC. One may obtain the card by going to the ISIC website, http://www.myisic.com. The cost is $25.